The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: jaybet on January 02, 2011, 12:25:19 PM
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Wfey and I went out and saw the new True Grit yesterday, and I LIKED it. We watched the original two weeks ago and while the two are similar they are quite different.
The new movie spends time in spots that the original skimmed over, and vice versa. Some of the best lines are still in there, and there are story twists that make it interesting.
I'm no Matt Damon fan, but he is a thousand times better than Glen Campbell, and actually brings something to the characfter The little girl is good, but all in all a wash.
Jeff Bridges wasn't John Wayne, but he was amazing in the Rooster he created. Salty, dirty, drunk, and old...he was entertaining as hell. He was funny as hell inthe courthouse and in the back room at the chinese store. No one will ever replace Duke, but Bridges is a big bad man in his own right.
Big guns, big booms, and some big acting. And the BGs were dirty, ugly and bad, and for some reason the "Ned" character reminded me of Robert Duvall, who played the part in the original. In the original the guy who they were after seemed more like an old man. Brolin plays a much better bad news character.
Plus I like the feel...John Wayne movies look a little more like tv shows. This movie looked more like Lonesome Dove and some of the Wyatt Earp movies...dusty, dirty, old, and violent.
I'd like to have both on video and watch both one after the other. Go ahead and see it- I don't think you'll be disappointed.
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FANTASTIC to hear! I was really concerned that they would screw this up but sounds like they got it right.
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I went ove and checked the reviews from the toughest bunch of people I know. CAS City members and Levergun members. On both sites the majority loved it. That's saying something.
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I gotta agree with Jay's assessment.
As much as I really didn't want to like the very idea of this movie even being made, I couldn't resist seeing it "just because". The clothing and speech is probably more period-correct and that is a big difference in the telling.
Rules to follow when seeing this movie:
Go with an open mind.
Don't try to compare it to the original.
Remember it is not a remake of a John Wayne movie, so treat it as an all-new telling of a great western story.
I believe you will like it in the end.......I didn't want to.....but I did.
"The only thing free in life is the grace of God."~~Mattie Ross
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I intend to see it. I wish it had been out when I visited my dad. There's this neat little theatre (as in an old school shopping mall type three screen special) that serves beer and food on Marco Island. There are tables like in the bar at a Chile's. $10 bucks buys a half pitcher of Sam Adams and $9 bucks gets you a pretty darn good 1/2 pound cheese burger. Not too shabby for a movie joint. After all, what better way to watch a Western? The Duke would have approved. ;D
FQ13
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I agree that the guy that played Glen Campbells part was a whole lot better, but I had a hard time understanding what the heck Jeff Bridges was saying. All in all, the only difference between this movie and the original that I seen where LeBeef did not die in this one, and they show the little girl grown up, and she lost her arm from the snake bite. I much prefer the Dukes version of the movie.
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I'm going to buy the video when it comes out. Matt Damon was a much better La Beef. I've always been a Barry Pepper fan since *61 (Ned Peppers). I was concerned when I heard they were remaking a Duke film, but the Cohan brothers did a great job with the film. I'll admit I was hooked when the film started and I heard 'Leaning on Jesus' playing all the way through the film to tie it together (one of my favorite songs).
Like Pegleg said keep an open mind.
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On another note, I really hope the movie does well at the box office. If a western can pull in good numbers at the box (and box office numbers drive Hollyweird), then maybe we western film lovers will get more quality-made theatrical releases. Think about how many westerns get made for the big screen these days. How many westerns have hit the big screen in the last 10-20 years? Most go straight to DVD.
Also, the new movie is nominated for multiple Academy Awards. That might spur more quality top-budget westerns to be made. It might be kinda cool if Bridges won best actor for playing Roster. How many other movies have had best actor winners for playing the same role in two different versions of the same story?
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PegLeg -- I love westerns as well...my wife makes fun of them because of the bad sets, bad costume and (often) bad acting. But I've always liked them even though they are usually formulaic. The best ones teach life lessons and address the classic good/evil conflict. And that there is often a fuzzy line between the two.
While you are right, only a few westerns have come out, there have been some decent ones:
Quigley (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
Tombstone (1993)
CrossFire Trail (2001...but ok, it was a TNT movie)
Open Range (2003)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
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I seen the movie with my wife on Saturday, and agree it was done very well. Not enough GOOD westerns are made anymore, as Peg said, hope it does well so more will be made!!
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Hey Shooter32! Was that you playing the part of the dentist?
"I took his teeth, but I WOULD entertain offers for the rest of him."
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This is a good video showing a lot of the original shooting locations of the original 1969 "True Grit". They've changed a bit, but many are still there. You get a real sense of the 41 years that have passed. I was a senior in high school working at my first job then, a movie theater usher earning $1.00 an hour. I saw this movie at least 50 times. The theater where I worked ran it for 3 weeks. I had at least 90% of the lines memorized back then. Many I still have. Bill T.
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PegLeg -- I love westerns as well...my wife makes fun of them because of the bad sets, bad costume and (often) bad acting. But I've always liked them even though they are usually formulaic. The best ones teach life lessons and address the classic good/evil conflict. And that there is often a fuzzy line between the two.
While you are right, only a few westerns have come out, there have been some decent ones:
Quigley (1990)
Unforgiven (1992)
Tombstone (1993)
CrossFire Trail (2001...but ok, it was a TNT movie)
Open Range (2003)
3:10 to Yuma (2007)
Absolutely.
Too many years worth of gaps between good movies.
Also, Wyatt Earp came out the same year as Tombstone.
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"The Desperate Trail", was also a TNT movie, but Thell Reed was the armorer in that movie and did an unbelievable job with the shooting scenes. I'm surprised TNT doesn't show it more. Monte Walsh was another good one that doesn't get much airplay. Bill T.
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I'll still sit through the original "Lonesome Dove"...
I'm going to see this film but I can't read any more of these posts. Someone is going to give away more than they intend too.....
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If you search for "free movies online" there are lots of new movies including this one.
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If you search for "free movies online" there are lots of new movies including this one.
Who wants to watch a movie on a 15" monitor? I only go to the giant screen Muvico type theatres, unless the flick is only playing at an arthouse or a Cinema@Draft House type place. If I can't get a giant screen and good speakers, I'd rather watch from the comfort of my own couch. You wait a bit, but you save ten bucks and can hit pause when you go to the head. Plus, there's beer and snacks.
FQ13
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Who wants to watch a movie on a 15" monitor? I only go to the giant screen Muvico type theatres, unless the flick is only playing at an arthouse or a Cinema@Draft House type place. If I can't get a giant screen and good speakers, I'd rather watch from the comfort of my own couch. You wait a bit, but you save ten bucks and can hit pause when you go to the head. Plus, there's beer and snacks.
FQ13
I haven't been to a theater in about nine years. Goldmenber, I think....
I watch them for a buck plus tax.....from a 20 buck dvd player from Target...on a twenty year old TV that was given to me, sitting in my broken, duct taped recliner.....ten feet from my refer and a cold one....
Life is good..... ;)
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I haven't been to a theater in about nine years. Goldmenber, I think....
I watch them for a buck plus tax.....from a 20 buck dvd player from Target...on a twenty year old TV that was given to me, sitting in my broken, duct taped recliner.....ten feet from my refer and a cold one....
Life is good..... ;)
Right there with you. If I see three movies a year in the theatre, its a banner year. Still, some things really are better on a big screen.
FQ13
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Right there with you. If I see three movies a year in the theatre, its a banner year. Still, some things really are better on a big screen.
FQ13
I agree wholeheartedly but the little lady can't go 30 minutes without peeing!
;D
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Wow ! The last movie I watched in a theater was "Blair witch" ;D
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Wow ! The last movie I watched in a theater was "Blair witch" ;D
And you admit paying to watch it in public? I mean hell, if I knew that people would pay to watch footage of freaked out whiny teenagers in the woods shot with a mini cam, I could have been a millionaire when I was faculty sponsor of a college outdoor club. ;D
FQ13
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And you admit paying to watch it in public? I mean hell, if I knew that people would pay to watch footage of freaked out whiny teenagers in the woods shot with a mini cam, I could have been a millionaire when I was faculty sponsor of a college outdoor club. ;D
FQ13
Who said I paid for the ticket ? ??? ;D
Actually I liked the concept behind it, there have been a couple other movies that used it as well, "84 Charlie MoPic" was the first one from back in the 80's, The plot is that a Lt. and Camera man (MOS 84C - MoPic ) accompany a recon patrol to film a training video, last time I saw it it was only on VHS.
Then in 2005 I saw one called "Afghan 101" about a couple amateur journalists doing a documentary on the Arms trade in NW Pakistan.
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Wow ! The last movie I watched in a theater was "Blair witch" ;D
Up until this one, the last movie I saw in a theater was Star Wars: Episode 3 in 2005. It was painful due to the seating. There is a new theater about 20 miles from us and it has stadium seating with plenty of leg room and recliner-like seats. So, I decided to risk it on True Grit. Very comfortable. I may start to go more. Matinee is $6.00.
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The last movie we saw at the theater was "Open Range". Before that it was "Apollo 13". That tells you the frequency we attend the movies. I suspect it will be even less now that they become avaliable on DVD within weeks instead of months. Bill T.
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Wow ! The last movie I watched in a theater was "Blair witch" ;D
I have to correct myself, I forgot about "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", but then it was a forgettable movie. :-\
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I watched true grit tonight and I agree it was enjoyable but alas I guess I am just a traditionalist at heart. Rooster lacked the depth that Wayne put into him and Maddy Ross was only just ok. Damon played the Texan well however and better than the original.
The ending gun battle was not as good as the original IMHO. The interation between Cheney and Maddy also lacked substance although it could have been by this time I was rooting for cheney to push her down the hole ???
If I had not had seen and watched the original as many times as I had and not been familiar with it I may have enjoyed this version more.
I would give it a 5/10.
I wish they would make a few more westerns even TV series would be great, I long for another series like Deadwood
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I watched true grit tonight and I agree it was enjoyable but alas I guess I am just a traditionalist at heart. Rooster lacked the depth that Wayne put into him and Maddy Ross was only just ok. Damon played the Texan well however and better than the original.
The ending gun battle was not as good as the original IMHO. The interation between Cheney and Maddy also lacked substance although it could have been by this time I was rooting for cheney to push her down the hole ???
If I had not had seen and watched the original as many times as I had and not been familiar with it I may have enjoyed this version more.
I would give it a 5/10.
I wish they would make a few more westerns even TV series would be great, I long for another series like Deadwood
The problem with most modern Westerns are they lack the single most important fact, they DO NOT show what makes this country great or point out the good things about this nation
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Do not romanticize "the Cowboy". They were nothing more than the "blue collar" workers of their day. Most of them were fairly ignorant, and spent most of their off time drunk. All this "nobility" stuff is pure Hollywood crap, they were no more "noble" than the average modern factory worker. Their true strength, and what actually made America great, is always down played or ignored. It was that they worked like dogs, and did what needed doing.
30 below zero and a blizzard ? The cattle and fence lines still need to be checked on, get your ass out there and do it.
Drought or locusts got last years crop ? Tough sh!t, You still need to keep plugging, no bailouts in those days.
It was a hard, thankless, generally hopeless existence and they did it 24/7/365 for $30 or $40 a month and board.
But they did it.
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Do not romanticize "the Cowboy". They were nothing more than the "blue collar" workers of their day. Most of them were fairly ignorant, and spent most of their off time drunk. All this "nobility" stuff is pure Hollywood crap, they were no more "noble" than the average modern factory worker. Their true strength, and what actually made America great, is always down played or ignored. It was that they worked like dogs, and did what needed doing.
30 below zero and a blizzard ? The cattle and fence lines still need to be checked on, get your ass out there and do it.
Drought or locusts got last years crop ? Tough sh!t, You still need to keep plugging, no bailouts in those days.
It was a hard, thankless, generally hopeless existence and they did it 24/7/365 for $30 or $40 a month and board.
But they did it.
+100! I hate it when people romanticize the past. They try to project their own values, yearnings, visions etc., onto average folks who stood up and did a job. It makes cardboard saints out of real people. To me it cheapens them and leaves us yearning for a past that never was. It makes us wonder "what went wrong?" as opposed to just manning up and dealing with stuff day by day just like they did.
FQ13
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Do not romanticize "the Cowboy". They were nothing more than the "blue collar" workers of their day. Most of them were fairly ignorant, and spent most of their off time drunk. All this "nobility" stuff is pure Hollywood crap, they were no more "noble" than the average modern factory worker. Their true strength, and what actually made America great, is always down played or ignored. It was that they worked like dogs, and did what needed doing.
30 below zero and a blizzard ? The cattle and fence lines still need to be checked on, get your ass out there and do it.
Drought or locusts got last years crop ? Tough sh!t, You still need to keep plugging, no bailouts in those days.
It was a hard, thankless, generally hopeless existence and they did it 24/7/365 for $30 or $40 a month and board.
But they did it.
Several years ago, PBS ran a group of shows where they put modern folks back in the 1600's in MA and another back in the 1800 in Wyoming. The casts were made to live in the period and suffer the pain, hardships, starvation, scavenging and everything that the Pilgrims and settlers were forced to endure.
It was a great series, very informative. A Navy buddy of mine was part of the Pilgrim cast. Pretty cool stuff and glamorous, it wasn't. Early Americans worked like their lives depended on it because it DID!
Not one of the Wyoming families depicted would have survived the winter according to the experts who summarized the groups. They couldn't put up enough wood, grain and staples to feed themselves or their livestock.
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+100! I hate it when people romanticize the past. FQ13
But what about the "good ol' days" when you could buy a new Ruger Blackhawk for under $200.00?? ;D Bill T.
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But what about the "good ol' days" when you could buy a new Ruger Blackhawk for under $200.00?? ;D Bill T.
I sold one last year that had the original $175 price tag still on it from 1976. Could have been yours for twice that. ;)
FQ13
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Past nothing ;). I know man is (and was) selfish. I was pointing out the differences between modern and classic westerns. It's nothing we haven't covered in other threads. Modern Hollywood sees nothing good about this country.
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Past nothing ;). I know man is (and was) selfish. I was pointing out the differences between modern and classic westerns. It's nothing we haven't covered in other threads. Modern Hollywood sees nothing good about this country.
Granted, But I'm pretty sure people like you and Pathfinder understand exactly the point I was trying to make.
The Brave town Marshal, or heroic Indian fighter were pretty darn rare, they were in fact just folks busting their butts to survive.
The "Indian fighter" was a farmer or ranch hand right up until some one tried to kill him.
The Town Marshal got little or no pay except a percentage of the fines he collected and was often some local who's farm or ranch was struggling. As an example, Pat Garrett worked as a Lawman so his family didn't starve, he was actually a Rancher, and inept land speculator.
Billy the Kid, the James boys, and the Earps, all more or less the same situation. They did what they needed to to put food on the table.
Good folks or bad none of them sat around letting the Govt support them, and win or lose they all kept plugging because they had no choice.
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Do not romanticize "the Cowboy". They were nothing more than the "blue collar" workers of their day. Most of them were fairly ignorant, and spent most of their off time drunk. All this "nobility" stuff is pure Hollywood crap, they were no more "noble" than the average modern factory worker. Their true strength, and what actually made America great, is always down played or ignored. It was that they worked like dogs, and did what needed doing.
30 below zero and a blizzard ? The cattle and fence lines still need to be checked on, get your ass out there and do it.
Drought or locusts got last years crop ? Tough sh!t, You still need to keep plugging, no bailouts in those days.
It was a hard, thankless, generally hopeless existence and they did it 24/7/365 for $30 or $40 a month and board.
But they did it.
But that's exactly the point. Their nobility is based in their ability to get the job done regardless of the obstacles. Sure, Tom Mix et al. turned the tourist cowboy trade into a more sissified and dandified version of the real thing. But it in no way diminishes what they were - hired workers looked down upon by the mainstream in society, but who made the work happen and fed the industrial might of this country. Just like John Henry, just like the coal miners, muleskinners, canal tow-boat pullers and polemen.
and Tom, anytime FQ gives you a "+100", be afraid, be very afraid! ;)
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But that's exactly the point. Their nobility is based in their ability to get the job done regardless of the obstacles. Sure, Tom Mix et al. turned the tourist cowboy trade into a more sissified and dandified version of the real thing. But it in no way diminishes what they were - hired workers looked down upon by the mainstream in society, but who made the work happen and fed the industrial might of this country. Just like John Henry, just like the coal miners, muleskinners, canal tow-boat pullers and polemen.
and Tom, anytime FQ gives you a "+100", be afraid, be very afraid! ;)
I am ;D
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But that's exactly the point. Their nobility is based in their ability to get the job done regardless of the obstacles. Sure, Tom Mix et al. turned the tourist cowboy trade into a more sissified and dandified version of the real thing. But it in no way diminishes what they were - hired workers looked down upon by the mainstream in society, but who made the work happen and fed the industrial might of this country. Just like John Henry, just like the coal miners, muleskinners, canal tow-boat pullers and polemen.
and Tom, anytime FQ gives you a "+100", be afraid, be very afraid! ;)
One of the things I'm most proud of is the Lazy T I got on my back...and it's not a tattoo.
When we had to give a deposition the lawyers asked when my first job was. I proudly told them I was ten. They all laughed and asked if it was a paperroute. I've never heard so much silence as when I told them working livestock. There is a noblity doing a man's job and hardwork, most people don't understand that and yes, I was influenced by the code that was espoused in westerns.
Guess you can blame mom for not taking Willie Nelson's advice when I was a kid. ;D
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Like I posted , DR and Path understand what I mean, The real Paul Bunyans started chopping the lumber that built America in Bangor and Portland Me. After they hit the Pacific and started another Portland and Bangor they turned around and started chopping their way back.
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Like I posted , DR and Path understand what I mean, The real Paul Bunyans started chopping the lumber that built America in Bangor and Portland Me. After they hit the Pacific and started another Portland and Bangor they turned around and started chopping their way back.
Yeah, I finally got we're seeing eye to eye more or less. It's just something that should be honored and respected...it doesn't really seam to be by those that have never done an honest days work...
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Yes, we see see eye to eye all right. The real hero's did not ride into the sunset with the girl, they fell into their blankets to tired to think, but with the satisfaction of hard work done well.
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Cool video for the movie True Grit...set to a good ol' Johnny Cash tune.